QPR’s Conor Washington was the striker the Blues were trying to sign on deadline day to replace Daryl Murphy, who departed for Newcastle United over the weekend.
On Tuesday Town had an offer of £1 million for midfielder-turned-striker Marley Watkins rebuffed by Barnsley and the bid made for Northern Ireland international Washington is understood to have been significantly in advance of that figure with QPR believed to be looking to recoup a significant proportion of the £2.5 million they paid Peterborough for the 24-year-old in January.
However, the clubs were unable to agree a valuation, while QPR were also keen to add to their squad before permitting Chatham-born Washington, who was previously with St Ives Town and Newport County, to move on.
Washington has made nine starts and 11 sub appearances since moving to Loftus Road, scoring his only goal in the 2-2 EFL Cup draw with Swindon earlier this month.
As reported last night, another potential signing became available closer to the 11pm deadline but there wasn’t time to get that deal done and manager Mick McCarthy opted to wait until January to look for an additional striker.
Earlier in the day the Blues had added Jonny Williams for a fourth loan spell, the Crystal Palace man joining on a season-long loan, as Leicester’s Tom Lawrence did the previous day.
We understand the outgoings relating to those deals, including loan fees and a significant proportion of their wages, as well as the addition of Leon Best equalled around two-thirds of the £3 million fee received for Murphy, although not all that figure was due up front.
In addition to the fee received from Newcastle, the 33-year-old will have been one of the bigger earners at the club and his exit, along with that of Cameron Stewart, whose contract was terminated by mutual consent yesterday, will have reduced the wage bill.
Portsmouth attacking midfielder Kyle Bennett, the younger brother of Blackburn's Elliott Bennett, who Town were eyeing earlier in the window, was also amongst the Blues’ late transfer window targets, although their interest in the 25-year-old one-time Wolves trainee may have cooled after the additions of Williams and Lawrence.
We understand Adam Reach, who joined Sheffield Wednesday from Middlesbrough for £5 million yesterday, was a player the Blues showed interest in earlier in the window. The fee ultimately splashed out by the Owls would have been well above and beyond what Town would have been prepared to pay.
Meanwhile, midfielder Conor Grant, who has missed the last three games with a groin problem, returned to action in the 2-1 U21s friendly defeat to Southend yesterday.